Today's News

Political leaders, investors and ordinary people Thursday welcomed the end of a U.S. government shutdown but already were looking ahead to the next round of a budget battle that brought the world’s biggest economy close to default and threatens Washington’s international standing.

After much discussion, the City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to move forward with a pilot underground water storage project.

Bob Wessely, president of the Las Vegas Community Water Board, underscored the need for the project during the public input portion of the meeting, telling the Council that the city’s existing reservoirs will likely be full by the end of the weekend, after which the city will have no place to store water flowing down the Gallinas.

Ride to Pride’s Seventh Annual Benefit Dinner, Auction and Dance is from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Oct. 18 at the Civic with live music by “Slo Burning.” Tickets are $45 couple, $25 individual, and $15 kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 425-9738 or 429-3905.

SANTA FE — Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has stockpiled nearly $3.3 million for her re-election campaign, giving her a significant fundraising advantage over Democratic challenger Gary King, according to financial reports filed Tuesday.
King had cash-on-hand of $142,441 in his campaign account as of Oct. 7.

Martinez raised $2.1 million for her re-election during the last six months while King collected $175,145.

Student loan defaults are up at most of New Mexico’s state universities.
The default rate at New Mexico State University rose to 18. 5 percent for students who enrolled in the 2010 fiscal year, up from 15 percent for students who enrolled one year earlier.
Corresponding rates for the University of New Mexico are 8.6 percent and 7.4 percent.

It’s homecoming time at NMHU, and the Cowboys host Adams State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Perkins Stadium.

Highlands is looking to end a three-game slide. The team fell to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after last weekend’s 33-27 nailbiter at Western State College in Gunnison, Colo. NMHU started the campaign by winning two of three games.